“Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this,
that you may inherit a blessing
“That” is a result clause. We receive a blessing as a result of blessing those who revile us.
“Inherit” means to obtain by inheritance. Some people can receive an inheritance but get nothing in that inheritance. God, however, gives content in His inheritance. We must do something to obtain this blessing operate on God’s viewpoint about retaliation.
“Blessing” means to speak well of someone. This is not the blessing of privilege. God called us to inherit His blessing, and this, in turn, should encourage us to bless others. God calls us to do this because He blessed us by His call.
Principle:
God blesses those who bless others.
Application:
God blesses us on the basis of His own character, not ours. This puts us all in the same boat because our blessing precludes merit. God does not bless us because of our good; He blesses us because of His good. He blesses us because of who He is and what He has done for us. Blessing, therefore, depends on the character of God.
We share God’s blessing of grace when we “know” this. We cannot earn or deserve God’s blessing, because it depends on our knowledge of God and His provisions in grace for us. Understanding this grace blesses us. Retaliation deprives us of God’s blessing.
The Christian who blesses others does so on the basis of His own blessing from God. This is why He can rise above retaliation. The maturity of His character transcends motley little resentments people may have toward Him. God blesses Him because of this.
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